Access station for an automated storage and retrieval system with container tilt functionality and a method for using same

Abstract

The invention concerns an access station for an automated storage and retrieval system and a method for operating such an access station. The access station comprises an inner carriage movable along a guiding frame, wherein a ramp is arranged to tilt a container support of the inner carriage into a picking position.

1 . A carriage for an access station of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
 a base configured to move between a picking position of the access station and a receiving position of the access station; and   a storage container support pivotably connected to the base;   wherein the carriage is configured to be arranged in either a receiving state when at the receiving position in which the storage container support is arranged substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, or a picking state when at the picking position in which the storage container support is tilted relative to the horizontal plane.   
     
     
         2 . The carriage of  claim 1 , further comprising a follower connected to and extending from the storage container support and configured to interact with a ramp of the access station to move the carriage into the picking state in response to a movement of the carriage from the receiving position to the picking position. 
     
     
         3 . The carriage of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage is configured to be moved between the receiving position and the picking position by a displacement device of the access station and along a guiding frame of the access station. 
     
     
         4 . The carriage of  claim 1 , wherein the storage container support comprises a retention lip configured to prevent a storage container from sliding off the storage container support when the carriage is in the picking state. 
     
     
         5 . The carriage of  claim 2 , wherein when in the picking state, the storage container support is tilted at a predetermined tilt angle, when the tilt angle is adjustable with the length of the follower. 
     
     
         6 . The carriage of  claim 1 , wherein a pivotal connection between the storage container support and the base is arranged such that the carriage is biased towards the receiving state under the influence of gravity. 
     
     
         7 . An access station for presentation for presentation of a storage container from an automated storage and retrieval system, the access station having a receiving position for receiving a storage container and a picking position for picking from the storage container, wherein the access station comprises:
 a carriage comprising a storage container support, wherein the carriage is configured to move between the receiving position and the picking position;   a ramp configured to interact with a portion of the carriage to move the carriage from a receiving state into a picking state in response to a movement of the carriage from the receiving position to the picking position.   
     
     
         8 . The access station of  claim 7 , wherein the storage container support is tilted relative to a horizontal plane in the picking state. 
     
     
         9 . The access station of  claim 8 , wherein the carriage comprises a follower connected to and extending from the first storage container support for interaction with the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . The access station of  claim 9 , wherein the carriage comprises a base and wherein the storage container support is pivotably connected to the base. 
     
     
         11 . The access station of  claim 10 , wherein the follower extends through the base. 
     
     
         12 . The access station of  claim 8 , wherein the ramp has a first portion inclined relative to the horizontal plane and a second portion inclined relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the second portion is inclined differently to the first portion. 
     
     
         13 . The access station of  claim 7 , wherein the access station further comprises a guiding frame extending between the picking position and the receiving position, wherein the carriage is moveable along the guiding frame. 
     
     
         14 . An access station for presentation of a storage container from an automated storage and retrieval system, the access station having a receiving position for receiving the storage container and a picking position for picking from the storage container, wherein the access station comprises an inner carriage comprising a first storage container support, wherein the inner carriage is configured to move between the receiving position and the picking position, wherein the inner carriage comprises an elevation mechanism for raising and lowering the first storage container support. 
     
     
         15 . The access station of  claim 14 , further comprising an outer carriage for transporting container, the outer carriage being moveable by means of the inner carriage, wherein the outer carriage comprises a second storage container support and a gap provided in the second storage container support for receiving the first storage container support of the inner carriage. 
     
     
         16 . The access station of  claim 15 , further comprising an attachment mechanism for releasably connecting the inner carriage to the outer carriage. 
     
     
         17 . The access station of  claims 15 , wherein the inner carriage has an elevated state in which the first storage container support is arranged at a higher elevation that the second storage container support, and a lowered state in which the first storage container support is arranged at a lower elevation than the second storage container support. 
     
     
         18 . The access station according to  claim 16 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises:
 a first coupling part arranged on the inner carriage; and   a set of second coupling parts arranged on the outer carriage at a horizontal distance defining a horizontal movement range between the inner carriage and the outer carriage; wherein the first coupling part and the set of second coupling parts are engageable when the inner carriage is in a lowered state;   wherein the first coupling part and the second coupling parts are not engageable when the inner carriage is in an elevated state.   
     
     
         19 . The access station according to  claim 18 , wherein the first coupling part is arranged at a rear end of the inner carriage, and the second coupling parts are arranged at opposite ends of the outer carriage. 
     
     
         20 . The access station according to  claim 14 , wherein the elevation mechanism comprises:
 a motor arranged in an inner carriage base for providing rotational drive;   a drive crank coupled to the motor to transmit rotational drive from the motor;   a coupler link pivotally coupled to the drive crank;   a drive coupling link pivotally coupled to the coupler link, the coupler link coupling rotational drive from the drive crank to the drive coupling link; and   a set of displacement links pivotally coupled to opposite ends of the drive coupling link;   wherein the displacement links are pivotably connected to the inner carriage base such that the drive coupling link, displacement links, and inner carriage base act as a parallel-linkage mechanism that raises and lowers the first storage container support.